I also do many other things but still find 8 hours isnt enough. I wanted to focus primarily on 1 job. Or at least, play what I want when I want. Like Twesterm said, imagine your doing a quest with other users and someone hit his EXP cap. Its really a shame because I was expecting the game on the 23th, I really liked the beta (a friend of mine is in). I hope they completely scrap the idea, if not im going to test the system in the open beta and see if I keep my pre-order or not.

A subscription based MMO of around 15$ a month that limits the amount of time you can play the game properly to just 8 hours a week?

Now I've seen everything.

It is not 8 hours a week.

I'm just going to post the official post since it is easier.

Once again, we would like to thank you all for your participation and support during the Closed Beta. We will continue to take your valuable feedback into consideration as we develop the game during Open Beta and even beyond the official release.

Now I would like to take a moment to respond to the many questions and opinions regarding the manner in and rates at which experience and skill points are obtained in Beta 3.

Firstly, the concept for FINAL FANTASY XIV was to design a system of character progression that offers meaningful advancement for those with limited time to dedicate to playing. We did not want to create a game that forced people to play for hours on end to see their efforts rewarded. To that end, in addition to the Guardian's Aspect and guildleve systems, we introduced a means of apportioning swifter advancement to shorter periods of play.

In order to achieve this balance, we calculated a value for the amount of skill or experience points that could be earned in a one-hour period. This theoretical value represents an hour spent engaged solely in combat, levequests, or any other activities that earn skill or experience points, and sets a threshold delimiting how many of these points can be earned in a period of play.

Based on this, we have implemented a “threshold value” concept. These thresholds are regulated by a one-week timer that begins counting down the instant you earn skill/experience points. After a week has passed, the thresholds will reset, and the moment skill/experience points are earned again, the timer begins counting down anew.

For the first eight thresholds during this week-long period, players will receive skill/experience points at the maximum rate possible. The actual amount of time spent reaching these thresholds is not significant. That is to say, a player who exceeds eight hours of gameplay will still be rewarded the maximum amount of skill/experience points, so long as the total amount earned is below the eighth threshold value. For the subsequent seven thresholds, players will earn skill/experience points at a gradually decreasing rate, eventually reaching a rate of zero.

It is worth noting, however, that the reduced rate will also gradually recover while players are engaged in activities that do not yield skill/experience points. In this manner, it is possible for the threshold value to reset completely, even before the completion of the one-week timer.

Any skill points earned in excess of the threshold maximum—that is, at a rate of zero—will be stored as "bonus skill points." These are specific to each class, so players limited to earning bonus skill points still have the freedom to change classes and begin earning skill points again at the maximum rate, allowing their reduced skill rates to recover in the meantime.

The experience point threshold, however, is unrelated to class, and switching classes will have no effect on the decreasing rate of earnable experience.

This is how the progression system currently works.

This system was not introduced in Beta 3, but has been in place since the beginning of beta testing. There are several reasons why many people believe that these features were only recently implemented:

- Leading into Beta 3, operation hours were extended, making it possible to play more often during the span of a week.
- To encourage players to form guidleve parties in Beta 3, skill and experience point rewards for guildleves were significantly increased.
- The process that reduced the amount of skill/experience points awarded for weak enemies attacking in groups was unintentionally removed at the start of Beta 3. (This issue has been addressed.)

That last reason in particular was the biggest cause for players running up against the threshold penalty, with characters earning far more skill/experience points than we anticipated. We also faced an issue where we were simultaneously unable to adjust the amount earned for guildleves as well as the effects of crossing each threshold.

We sincerely apologize for the lack of explanation and our failure to make the necessary adjustments in the game.

The threshold values are being reexamined, and we plan to further adjust the different rates of earnable points based on feedback from our testers. One of the top issues we are looking at right now is fixing the excessively rapid drop after crossing the eighth threshold. We also plan to improve experience point reduction rates, even more so than for skill points, considering the threshold is unaffected when changing class.

At the very least, we can promise that players won't be running into the threshold penalty in the same short time span as they did in the beginning of Beta 3.

We would like to take this opportunity to also explain the following issues.

The diminishing results experienced during gathering are a function related to that class alone, and have no connection to this progression system. We are in the process of adjusting this system, and plan to make changes based on tester feedback.

We are currently in the process of considering the means in which bonus skill points can be used. There have been suggestions for various types of incentives, but as encouraging people to play with that in mind defeats the purpose of this threshold system, we will be examining this issue very carefully.

These are not the only adjustments we have planned for Open Beta. As mentioned previously, we are looking into increasing the amount of skill points earned when fighting in a party, and we look forward to seeing your input on these changes.

Last of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in releasing a developer's comment due to my recent attendance to Gamescom. The article based on my interview during that trip, coupled with conjecture, outdated information, and some misunderstandings on overseas websites, only added to the confusion. In the future, I hope to avoid similar problems by responding directly through official developer's comments as often as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

See you in the Open Beta Testing!

FINAL FANTASY XIV Director
Nobuaki Komoto

The game is releasing in less than a month (collector edition), and they still have that much tweaking to do?!?

Like I said, If you have no problem soloing by yourself, it wont be a big deal. But, some people may prefer partying in a group, like me. I pre ordered the pc version already but, I'm just saying. It could be tough for some people.

Yes I play FFXI, and Final Fantasy XI has no exp limits, so that is a big difference right there.

No, you cannot switch jobs at anytime in FFXI. You need to go into your Mog House.

You must have not played FFXI very much.  Correct, you can't switch at any instant, but you know what I mean by switch at any time.  I don't mean you're sitting in the middle of a party and decide you want to go SMN.

And if you really have played FFXI then you should very well know that you can find a party at whatever time.  An XP limit doesn't change that. You would also know that FFXI is one of the best games at bringing end game players and new players together because of it's job system.

So again, no point bringing up the issue.  It couldn't be any more of a non-issue.

Penalising gamers is never a good idea. It's bad design.

Why don't they have separate servers for those that doesn't play that much instead? That way casual players could play at their pace and the more hardcore gamers could play the way they want.

Forcing everyone to follow this kind of system would severly decrease the numbers of players; and decrease the amount of subscriptions.

Kind of defeats the purpose of the MMO genre imo. Oh well, another FF title I won't be getting, this is becoming an unsettling trend.

Do not assume anything, because I can say you haven't played FFXI that much either. First of all it comes down to how populated your server is. If you put all that into consideration you'll better understand what I'm talking about. That is a main factor on how long you'll have to wait for a xp party invite, including level sync invites. You should know this. Finding a party at anytime now? wow.. I'll just go to an Abyssea pick up alliance instead..

But hey, this topic is about Final Fantasy XIV. Lets stay on course. I see this as an issue for some players and I will not change my mind until I actually get to play it.

Abyssea is insane. Friend of mine went from 63 to 80 yesterday in like 5 hours.